I’m with Zot, Grimnee, and Brian at the refreshment table. I guess Luna can’t count, because they’re out of cookies already. And the punch is almost gone, too, because Zot is guzzling it. I guess you work up quite a thirst dancing like she does.
“Hey,” she tells me between gulps, “you weren’t bad out there. I guess I’m a pretty good teacher.”
“Yeah, you and Telly Torkintottintin.”
“Who?” Zot looks confused.
“The kid I got to know on the field trip. He showed me a few things, too. And none of his were head-cracking moves.”
Uh-oh. Speaking of head cracking…
“Relax. I’m not here to cause any trouble.”
“Really? What else do you know how to do?”
“Well, I… um… I guess I was sort of wondering if… you know… maybe Grimnee wouldn’t mind dancing with me too much.”
Well, what do you know. This has been a pretty crazy afternoon, but I can’t imagine anything topping that.
What the…?! That’s Bula’s plushy, Fluffles! And he’s… talking?!
“That’s him! That’s the same voice I heard back when we were trapped in that giant robot! That’s the guy who was trying to take the Zorb off that planetoid!”
Okay. Dorn asking Grimnee to dance seems pretty normal now.
“But we sent him drifting aimlessly through space. How did he end up back here?”
“Behold the awesome might of Erik Failenheimer!”
“Failenheimer? I’m pretty sure that was the name of the janitor who was on the shuttle from Earth with us. What the heck is going on?”
“Listen very carefully, do exactly as I say, and no one will be hurt. At least not until I gain the universe-shattering power I so richly deserve. Then all bets are off!”
“Universe-shattering power? Kelvin, he must be after the Zorb again!”
“When I arrive in fifteen minutes, you will hand Melvin Klosmo over to me immediately. Until then, feel free to sit there and contemplate living out the remainder of your days under the iron-fisted rule of the almighty Erik Failenheimer! BWAHAHAHA!!!”
“Melvin Klosmo? He must mean me. He must be planning on using me to get the Zorb somehow. Quick, Brian, gather everybody together!”
“Okay. Scratch Brian. Quick, Zot, gather everybody together. We’ve got fifteen minutes to get over to the space station and shrink that Zorb!”
Only fifteen minutes. Mippitt better be able to fly that shuttle like a rocket. The gang’s all together, so we bolt for the door.